How To Repair Or Replace A Dodge Durango Power Steering Pump

Replacing a power steering pump in your Dodge Durango or other Dodge vehicle with a 318 cubic inch engine (5.2 liter) doesn’t have to be a costly nor difficult job. This article will take you step-by step through the process of replacing your Durango or other Dodge powered vehicle power steering pump.

The tool requirements for replacing the steering pump are common metric tools for the most part. The use of a pulley remover is mandatory because of the method used to attach the pulley to the power steering pump itself.

As always, remove the battery connections to ensure the engine is not started accidentally while replacing the power steering pump. Take your time and you should have no problems with this project. A leaky or malfunctioning power steering pump can be dangerous if not repaired or replaced when discovered to be bad.

Start out by removing the serpentine belt by putting pressure on the spring retainer until the belt can be safely removed. Detach the positive battery clamp from the terminal for safety’s sake.

Note the way the serpentine belt is placed around the particular pulleys if there is no diagram on the engine itself.

The steering pump is attached to an engine retaining bracket. The bracket must first be removed from the engine before the power steering pump itself can be accessed.

First, remove the two pressure and return hydraulic lines from the steering pump by compressing the retaining clamps. A small amount of steering fluid may be caught in a container with the balance to be emptied from the reservoir later.

The bracket uses 4 bolts to attach it to the engine. Remove these bolts and note which one goes where in the bracket.

We removed the radiator hose from the radiator in order to have more working room and to allow easier removal and replacement of the Dodge power steering pump.This also makes removing and replacing the steel hydraulic lines easier.

With the bracket bolts removed, it should be easy to pull the old power steering pump from the engine compartment. Remove the cap containing the dipstick from the reservoir and place it aside. Many new or aftermarket rebuilt power steering pumps do not include a new reservoir check cap with the purchase. The old power steering pump will be returned for the deposit and will be rebuilt if it isn’t damaged beyond repair.

At this point you may finish emptying the remaining power steering fluid from the reservoir into a closed container. Always refill the new power steering pump with new fluid. A malfunctioning steering pump may have introduced metal particles into the fluid itself and may damage the new power steering pump if reused.

Place the assembly on a stable working surface while removing and replacing the pulley and steering pump from the engine retaining bracket. While we used a standard 3 prong pulley remover, it is suggested you rent a tool made just for this purpose. The 3 prong puller, if not used carefully, may cause the pulley to be warped. Both AutoZone and O’Reilly auto parts stores will let you use a special tool for a deposit which will be returned after use.

Once the pulley is removed you can now access the 2 bolts which hold the steering pump to the engine retaining bracket. You may need to use the old hydraulic line fittings from the old pump if new fittings are not supplied with the new steering pump. New fittings are inexpensive if you want to be sure of having no leaks, The choice is yours.

With the fittings replaced, you may now reverse the order of the removal process including using the special tool to press the pulley onto the new pump. Once the power steering pump is back in place and the lines reattached it is time to refill the reservoir with new power steering fluid. Replace the serpentine belt and start the engine.

Bleed the system by turning the steering wheel slowly from side to side without putting pressure against the stops. Turn off engine and top up the fluid until it remains in the safe area and the steering is smooth. Check for leaks and the job is done! Return the special pulley tool and get your deposit back for it and the old power steering pump.

This project should only cost you about $75 depending on where you get the new power steering pump. Good luck on your repairs and thanks for reading my articles!